Highly Recommended - 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTI Long-Term Road Test


The 2015 Volkswagen GTI is pretty great. I'd recommend it to anybody shopping for a sporty hatchback or even as a family vehicle.
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The 2015 Volkswagen GTI is pretty great. I'd recommend it to anybody shopping for a sporty hatchback or even as a family vehicle.
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Luggage, portable crib, camera bag, etc. Not going to happen unless you're going to shove some of that into the passenger area. A medium to large sedan can suck all that up.
If road trip duty two or three times a year is really your hangup for buying the smaller car you actually want day-to-day, I'd just rent a Dodge Caravan from Enterprise for those rare occasions.
I did a few road trips in my '97 Outback so I can still manage a smaller vehicle. But going from the big empty to a $28,000 three door hatch may be too big of a jump. ($24k base MSRP)
Never had kids but trying to put a child seat in the back with a two door sounds like a hassle too.
That leaves the four door GTI Autobahn for $30k MRSP, but no gain in cargo space. And less ground clearance than a Prius.
Lest this sounds like too much thread-crapping, I really would like to downsize and see how a hatch would work for our main car. Parking the Grand Caravan is a pain on the errand runs.
With that said, I think he might need the 10k he saves for the eventual maintenance he will have to perform, especially if he expects to drive it as long as he could the lexus. Plus, the infotainment system stinks in the GTI/VW's, right?
2006 Rabbit
55k radiator - $750 hmmm. I had an 97 accord with 210,00 before the radiator went.
70k cv joint - $200?
75k alternator - $1200
80k - ignition switch and fuel relays - $750
95k did the brakes. The rear calipers wouldn't expand. I forget what they cost to replace but it was hundreds.
This last one was excellent. the car died on the highway at 70 mph. Twice. Think about that for a moment...no power breaks or steering. I called VW corporate to voice my concern and frankly, they could not have cared less.
Not to mention the car is a rattle box.
Other than the brakes needing done, none of these repairs should have been needed at these miles. Not even close. All it means is the bean counters getting the cheapest parts.
So if you absolutely must drive a VW, lease or sell it when the warrantee is over. Don't let the one owner who has had a fuzzy warm with a VW keep you from ignoring the warning you get from so many others.
As a side point, when I was looking to replace the accord I noticed that I could get a two or three year old Acura TSX for less than 20k. So I did. The VW isn't even close to the same level of the Acura and a base Golf 4 door will cost you more. I also get 34/35 on the highway. I realize that they are two different classes of automobile but it's more car for less money. It also handles much better than the VW.
Remember...if you must...don't drive out of warrantee!